"Just as expected." Krumph sat with his men, hidden among a pile of bushes, where (just a two hundred meters forward) Crane's disputed territory laid with two tents and a chunk of soldiers with terrifying assets.
There were a band of five sailors with them with… "Radio equipment?"
"Yes, sir." They promptly said, "long range communication."
Krumph couldn't contain his wonder, "long range communication!? How?"
"Sir, I do not know sir."
Krumph nodded, now in deep thought; "long range communication? The advent of the radio… Truly revolutionary! Nay the ships if you can talk to someone from hundreds of lands away! I need to talk to Wagner after this."
The sailors were doing a whole bunch of operations that Krumph hadn't any clue about. They were using paper and pencils, doing calculations and rapidly sending back messages through their radio machine.
Then, the stout sailor looked at Krumph, "Sir, it is time for you to discieve them."
Krumph nodded, stood up (with his knights). Then….
"Run!"
---
"What the hell?" The Sanzan commander was in a shock; what were the Crane knights doing!? They were… "They're running towards us! Men! Men! Prepare your swords, bows! I want them dead! Poor bastards!"
Soon, the Sanzan knights were charging into the crowd of Crane knights that were running towards them as well. But, the commander madw one last observation just moments before the two units clashed.
"They have no swords!?"
A swish! The Crane knights turned sharply left.
"What!?" The Sanzan knights froze in shock, not knowing what to do.
"Follow those bastards! Shoot yo' arrows bitch!" The commander yelled furiously, taking the diversion as an act of cowardice.
It only took a second to fire, and a second more to hit. As soon as the sailors hidden from the bushes saw the knight struck by arrow fire, he immidiately grabbed ahold of his hefty radio. Immidiately, he telegraphed;
"F I R E"
It was peaceful, from the sea-like sound of the trees swishing in the cool wind. Save for the 'fight' happening some distance away from them. Seeing the knight fall to his knees, his comrades grabbed them and ran like hell towards the trees.
It wasn't all too audible, but the shock; and the flutter of birds who were in the trees said as much.
-1-
-2-
-3-
The ground raised!
The blast was an outregeous volcanic-like shock! Krumph and the other knights looked on, stunned and without words. In just seconds, the whole of the advance was stopped. And, as the explosion, it's dust faded away into the sky; they saw a gruesome sight.
"The kinghts of Sanzan have all but died." Krumph couldn't contain his surprise, "your weapon," -he looked at the sailors- "it is… Unprecedentally… Powerful."
No amount of blood remained in the crater the USS Olympic left, it was only shards of armor, bone, and some amount of human matter in the areas where the explosion wasn't as effective.
"Well." The sailor stood up, "sir. Please continue your advance and secure your rights of the territory."
"I shall." Krumph smiled victoriously.
( * )
"What nonsense!?" The king of Grand was utterly furious, "what has that foolish Marquis done!? They incite war with the Sanzan!?"
It had been a week after the supposed 'invasion of the Sanzan' and the historical success of the Crane Marquis.
"Delivered by the report of the Crane Marquis;" the King's Messenger cleared his throat of phlegm. "We had enacted in accordance to the self-defence clause of the international law. They had unjustly shot our knightly selves with their bows and arrow. We had reacted accordingly, and with 'borrowed power' were able to fight back with the mob of knights that threaten to invade a land of the king."
"Ha!" The king couldn't contain his amusement, "that marquis! Ever so thoughtful… He's given us a death sentence but delayed it by a week! Because of that clause, we can only sue for proper declaration. And any further acts will be deemed a warcrime! Truly fantastic thinking, but ah! I cannot! That man is truly ridiculing me! Send yourselves to the dun of the marquis and deliver a message that I shall arrive the day after the the message reaches, tell him that I wish to know of his borrowed power, and how his puny force was able to fight back a Sanzan's!"
"Yes, your majesty!" The knights shuffled about in respectful, militaristic manner, leaving the throne room in marching fashion.
The door shut.
( * )
A grand festival-like opening was given as the King of Grand entered the city of Crane. A grand event fitting of a king's arrival! Stretching from one end of the main road to the other; were the citizens of Crane. Joyously celebrating the coming of the King, their arms waving while crying tears of joy at his arrival.
"Who have you befriended Marquis…?" The king recollected the sight he saw from the boat they used to transfer him towards Crane. "Four gigantic forts were sitting on the water, were they ships? No… It couldn't have been ships. They had masts! Like our galleons and sloops. But their proportions… Their massive sizes… They were fortresses beyond my understanding! Who… Who have you brefriended Marquis!!"
---
Krumph bowed down before the presence of the king. Atten and Wagner had also, but Pais and Bundle hesitated a little. The king saw the four admirals, the sailors with rifles some ways back in the large hall and could only deduce that the Marquis prevailed against all odds simply because of his new found friends.
"Rise your heads." The king grunted, his lanky body sat on his seat.
Atten looked at his features, he was a wiry old man, with grey hair flowing down in locks all the way to his hips. His face had a myriad of scars, and his eyes were keen and sharp. Like an impregnable fortress, the king himself was the castle of a castle, even if his physical mass was not as built as the knights that surrounded him.
"Who are the four men behind you, Lord Krumpf?" His voice was hoarse yet powerful.
"Your majesty, they are from a land we have no idea of." The king's interest piqued, a grin showing and his eyebrows rising. "They hail from the continent of Europe. And come from differing countries. Admiral Atten is from the United Kingdom, Admiral Wagner is from Imperial Germany, Admiral Pais is from France, and Admiral Bundle is from the United States of America." He had pointed to each of them when he had introduced them to the king, the four bowing slightly as their names were called.
"Ha!" The king laid back on his seat, "you make me wish to relieve the old days! Do you know how old I am, Marquis?"
"Your majesty is one hundred a fifty years old."
"Yes! Yes I am!" The four admirals were shook by the age of the king, no man in Earth lived that long, was he even human they wondered. "I had fought in the war of the North and the South! Do you wish to know why the war had been declared?"
"W-why, your majesty?"
"Tis' because we did not know each other's interests!" He joyously remarked, his expressions were superficial in that they mirrored Atten somewhat as they both had this air of craziness within them. "We went to war not knowing what the other wanted from the other! And because of this mystique, millions died!
"Now… The four of you, you are naval Admirals. And are from four great countries, I suppose? The Imperial Germany-Admiral, thoust' hails from a line of the nobility, as does the United Kingdom-Admiral, who'st understanding of monarchy should undoubtfully be similar to ours! I apologize for my lack of hospitality, however, I wish to be frank in my ideals."
He stood up from his chair and began walking around, walking slowly and calculated around the walls of the hall, looking at the window and observing them. "Excuse me, I am not the type to sit a lot, for walking and standing is what I prefer."
"That is quite alright, your majesty."
"I wish to… Enact diplomatic affairs with your countries. I wish a friendly one. And I wish for a military pact."
"That is quite a hefty wish, your majesty." Atten spoke. "However I do not think we'll be able to fulfil your wishes."
"Why is that?" The king neared Atten, still kneeling on the floor.
"Wishes require equal exchange, your majesty." Atten said promptly, not forgetting to include the proper honorific.
The king half-grinned at his tenacity. "Name your price, admiral."
"In behalf of our jointly wants," Atten spoke for his comrades. "We wish to assist you in the incoming war with the Sanzans in exchange… We wish to occupy territory."
"Ha!" He pointed, his expression all weird yet joyously shocked. "What an offer! Then fine! I shall do such! What territory do you wish to occupy? One from the Sanzan? Or will you dare wish for one of my own!?"
"Your majesty." Atten said in a earnest voice. "I wish for this city. The city of Crane to be my territory."
( * )
"I can't believe it." Groaned Krumpf, her daughter sighing along with him. "We're booted off and now we're practically commoners. And that's because I sided with them."
"That's…" Her daughter placed her hand on his, reasuring him. "That's alright, father! I am sure there is a greater resolve in this. We should trust the admirals."
"Trust the admirals?" He felt a sting in those words, "I had, and yet my territory, the pride of the Wilmmer family which befell to me after the death of my grandfather now is defunt! Totally defunct! Because I trusted those otherworldy scoundrels! Ah! I cannot! If only I can come back and tell my past self of this stupidity I would have expelled them out of our city, Phoebe! I would! I… I would…" After his rambling ended, he couldn't help but shed a tear.
"Father…" Phoebe's eyes bubbled, "I… I am at fault! I let them in! I let them in without consulting you!"
"Ah, don't be like that Phoebe." He hugged her. "Don't be."
The two were sitting on the castle's front lobby, already prepped to leave to their vacation manor at the far south side of city of Crane. When, in full dress, sir Atten approached them. "Why are you leaving?"
There was a disdain in his eyes, "you had booted us."
"No I had not!" Atten was utterly stupendified! "Who do you take me for, Sir Wilmmer! I am not that kind of person. Yes I have taken your territory. But I do not wish to shame you and your family's legacy. That is… That is stupid!"
"What…?" Phoebe and Krumph were in a stupor, drowned by questions, dumbfounded by Atten's comedic-self.
"Get your stuff back in your rooms! You're still the lord, the Marquis of Crane! It is like a puppet government however, I can overule you at times, however you are still without doubt; the lord of theeeeeeeeeeee Crane City!" He finished in dramatic theatrical fashion.
"What!??" They both yelled, flabbergasted!
( * )
Atten presided over the role of being the one ruling the territory of Crane, the other three were of the same rank as him, but only he is identified as the one. If that made sense.
Now with the power, he wished for the port to be upgraded so that their ships could be maintained much more easier, and that other ships in the docks wouldn't bump and possibly scratch the hull or any equipment on the deck.
Just two days after the arrival and quick departure of the king, Atten left with Wagner towards the castle. As it was a landlocked city, he couldn't ride by their ship. It was a long grueling journey in the carriage. Well, there were actually five carriages in the formation.
Under the carefulness of Wagner; he prepared twenty sailors with their rifles and bayonets installed for any just-in-case scenario. And, as Wagner says; "So that we can show off our power in the capital!"
Two more days later, they arrived at dawn.
There was a great and unexpected succesion. For Wagner and Atten entered the captial with his sailors marching on whilst he and Atten waved their hands outside their carriage. Their presence in the big capital gravitated the citizens, looking at them with astonishment over their great uniforms, weird weapons, and caluclated and stern marches. Even the horse joined in with the march's beat.
Even if they didn't know what was transpiring, the citizens of the capital cheered on. Since they didn't know what noble this could be, it would only mean that it was another country who got in uninvited.
They entered the capital's great and big castle. Atten noted that it featured a main and secondary wall, the main one was big, taller than a tall spruce tree (however vague that may be). The main castle was rather gothic in it's architecture, but it's height was comparable to Big Ben. It featured many spires, many arches, and was pleasing to someone who loved the great era of architecture, as was Atten.
With knights at their bay, they were led towards the throne room. With theatrical exuberance, the king's messenger thrusted his opera-ic' voice; "here cometh! Sir Admiral Atten of the United Kingdom! And Sir Admiral Wagner of Imperial Germany!"
Blasted an orchestra of brass!
The sailors didn't follow, and kept themselves on the doorway.
Atten and Wagner bowed, kneeling before the king on his throne. "As you prostrate yourself before me, I thank you for receiving the call and aiding in my journey." The king's eccentricness was completely devoid, he was a completely different person infront of the nobles who decorated the flanks of the throne room, standing and observing the both of them.
Atten couldn't help but overhear their conversations. A mix of opinions flooded the room, the nobles wanted to take sides based on first apperances, and Atten understood that his debut with the Grand wasn't great. He was (afterall) a part of the group who was responsible for this declaration.
To the obvious femme fetale woman who's lips were parted and sinster, and her eyes sharp, he looked at them and taunted; "ah, the kingdom of Grand's fallen to the hands of someone else. Cannot. Cannot! Believe the… 'King' wants 'their' help in this declaration when they… They attacked first! Goodness, I wish that stupid Crane dunce'dve died. Now I have to actually do things that make 'me' LOSE money. Goodness."
Atten helped himself a guilty chuckle.
Then to his immidiate left; there were a group of young nobility. One was indifferent to the whole event, one was enraged that there was an event, one was enraged with what the event was all about. And one was curious.
"As we are all aware, the Sanzan are declaring war with us. However! That will be to no effect! For with the admiral's battleships, the war'd be over in mere seconds, should we pick the best location for our war."
"Your majesty," a noble, thick with muscle and intellect too (Atten assumed), as the man's posture was fine, and his face was scholar-like ."I wish to understand why you trust these people. These battleships, we've yet to see them, yet your majesty put trust in them that they can end the war."
"Yes," He rose from his throne, "I am certain in that regard."
He gulped, the room was steady silent.
"For his majesty be so certain in something…" The noble smiled, the pride for his kingdom, the respect for the king reflected itself from those eyes. And instantly, he had gained respect for the admirals. "If that is what you wish, your majesty, then it is true that I shall trust them also."
The room grew loud with audible gasps, followed by mumbling and gossiping, "the duke of Neeman's loyalty to the king's made him blind to the intentions! The intentions of the admirals… This blind trust is what'll lead our kingdom to doom, I tell you."
Wagner overheard, and so did Atten. "That man is a duke, the second-hand man of a king. It was right to bring Atten here, he will do great in negotiation, and if we can get in the duke's better-better side, it'll spell all kinds of greatness for the four of us."
"We shall accept their declaration of war," the king announced, raising his hands skywards, "however, as the clauses of war ordains, we (being the contested) can pick the line of war for our first battle. To that end, I wish for the seaside city of Hombult to be the battlegrounds."
"Your majesty!?" Hombult's lord blurted in retort, "I haven't a great force to counter theirs!"
"We needn't a great force, for we already have one." The king's eyes laid himself on Atten, understanding the man's eccentricness was comparable to his, the king's eyes said the words which his mouth kept secret, and Atten stood.
"Nobles of the kingdom of Grand!" Atten propelled his presence to everyone who stood, silencing themselves, intrigued and listening. "I come from the continent of Europe! I understand your gasps, your cornocopia of questions. However, those quandaries will not be answered! For… We have greater tasks at hand.
"With the four battleships possesed by us, the four admirals from the continent of Europe; we will rival the foe! And, this I make certain. That no man… No knight of yours! Will perish upon the presence of our great vessels!
"You all wish to understand why our vessels carry great power, however, that is not a thing I shall comment on. Instead! You will see it for your own eyes! With even a force as much as a hundred knights, naught! Ten! Ten even, I guarantee the sea-side city absolutely that they to be not invaded by the Sanzan!
"And, for your entertainment, you may observe from the laylines of the battle from a secure location! This, this is the resolve of the four admirals from Europe! From I, Atten! Admiral of the British Navy!"
Atten stood with pride, his words carrying themselves even outside of the throne room and into the ears of the knights.
The king smiled, certain of his current choices.
"Well now." He sat on the throne, "we shall prepare Sanzan-ward."